Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 2026.

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18246 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 100 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Thursday, May 02, 2019

‘JAZZ ARTISTS OF THE YEAR’ TO HEADLINE FESTIVAL IN DURHAM

 PRESS RELEASE

DJAZZ : The Durham City Jazz Festival

Various venues
Durham City
June 7th - 9th
Tickets: £20 available from buytickets.at/djazz

A festival is bringing together an eclectic mix of regional, national and international musicians to Durham, including multi award winning artists at the cutting edge of jazz, and placing them in the city’s most iconic buildings.

Now in its 3rd year, DJAZZ: The Durham City Jazz Festival brings you an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional jazz set against the backdrop of some of Durham's most intriguing venues. Highlights include 2 x MOBO award winner Moses Boyd who will be headlining at Redhills: Durham Miners Hall and 2018’s ‘Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year' Arun Ghosh, who will be opening the festival.


The festival brings a fresh perspective to the world of jazz, celebrating its vast and varied nature. The focus is to bring together a number of different musical styles, groups, networks and audiences in the small but perfectly formed city of Durham. At only £20 for a full weekend ticket festival-goers gain access to over 20 events ranging from intimate sets in hidden locations to big names in big venues! Think cafes, pop-ups and bars to venues and iconic historic buildings. This not only has the effect of pairing up acts with a unique environment but is part of the festival’s ambition to reach new audiences and get music lovers to try something new!

So one minute you’re watching multi-award winning Moses Boyd Exodus in the historic Durham Miners Hall, Redhills - and the next you’re in the 25 capacity Holy Grale for an intimate solo set.

The organisers encourage anyone who is interested in live music to engage with the festival, and not to be deterred by the term ‘Jazz’. The genre has enjoyed a huge resurgence over the past few years as we find ourselves now within a period of exciting UK revival.

Carlo Viglianisi says:
“Jazz can be quite a loaded phrase but the truth is, jazz as a genre can be traced through almost every form of music since the 1920s. At our festival you’ll hear everything from new straight ahead trios and bossa nova right through to grime and electro. You’ll definitely catch the best examples of Jazz as you think you know it, and jazz as you don’t know it”


Collaboration plays an important part of the festival not only in bringing musicians together but also by working with the local businesses to transform existing spaces into festival venues for the weekend.

Heather Spencer says:
“Not only will you see a diverse range of artists from a local, national and international stage but from all angles of the festival, we seek to create an environment that makes everyone welcome through our collaborative approach. We work with so many different partners, from local groups to student societies and small businesses to big organisations meaning we have no single core audience - DJAZZ is truly a festival for everyone.”

Taking place across multiple venues in the city audiences will experience jazz in all of its forms in a range of unique and intriguing venues.

The festival venues are:
     Durham Cathedral
     Redhills: Durham Miners Hall
     The Square at The Riverwalk
     Pop-up hub at The Riverwalk
     Pop-up jazz bar st The Riverwalk
     The Norman Chapel at Durham Castle
     The Holy GrAle

Featured acts include:
     Moses Boyd Exodus - 2X MOBO Award winner (link)
     Arun Ghosh - 2018 Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (link)
     Paul Edis and Graeme Wilson - Durham Cathedral pipe organ and saxophone (link)
     Between Waves - Archipelago + Fran Bundey - Newcastle based genre-fluid trio featuring electronic vocal-looping artist Fran Bundey
     Ceitidh Mac - Cello, vibraphone/percussion, vocals, reeds and synths - blending alt-folk and mellow vocals
     The Nu Bossa Band - Porteguese father-daughter duo with stunning sax and percussion - music spanning the afro-cuban and latin tradition
     Kinesis + Paul Grainger - local drumming star Abbie Finn returns to Durham with her duo - then trio - showing the changing timbre of the music
     LoLanders - Collaboration between leading Scottish and Dutch jazz musicians - an exciting sextet of varied influences: Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Scottish and Highland tradition and the Asian diaspora
.
Full line up is at: https://djazzfestival.co.uk/

Contact:
Carlo Viglianisi
07787 144 894

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